In My Mom Era

The final ten. From a mystery-book vending machine to a real-life movie town, a pyramid in Wyoming, and a Catholic church made of adobe. Because apparently I can’t make a normal travel bucket list. LOL.

FORTY PLACES.

I did it. I actually made a list of forty places I want to visit, sooner rather than later, in celebration of turning forty.

And if you’ve followed along through Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, you already know that I don’t exactly pick destinations the conventional way.

I start looking for a bookstore. Then I find a castle. Then I find a bridge. Then somehow I’m researching a completely different country.

This final installment might be the best example yet.

I have a few places I’ve dreamed about for years, a few that I discovered approximately five minutes before adding them to the list, and at least one destination that exists here entirely because of Sandra Bullock.

Let’s finish this thing!

31. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

It started with a bookstore. Obviously.

I wanted to know which bookstores in North America were truly worth traveling to see. That’s how I discovered The Monkey’s Paw, an antiquarian bookstore in Toronto.

And the reason it immediately caught my attention?

THEY HAVE A VENDING MACHINE FOR OLD BOOKS.

It’s called the Biblio-Mat. You put in a token, and it dispenses a surprise vintage book. You don’t know what you’re getting. You could end up with some obscure history book, an outdated scientific manual, or a subject you didn’t even know existed.

I feel like this machine was invented specifically to enable my particular brand of curiosity. LOL.

Naturally, I started looking around Toronto.

CASA LOMA. A gigantic castle-like mansion with towers, secret passages, and an underground tunnel. Are you KIDDING ME? I love old houses, and I love mysteries. A house that actually has secret passages is practically irresistible.

And LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

Then came the Scarborough Bluffs, where the water in the photographs looks so impossibly blue that I had to remind myself I was looking at Lake Ontario.

Then Tommy Thompson Park, with its unusual bridge, wildlife, and waterfront views.

And THEN I found the Royal Ontario Museum.

Dinosaurs. Ancient civilizations. Artifacts. Natural history. An entire museum full of things I could spend hours reading about.

Toronto went from one bookstore to a full-blown family vacation in the space of one Google Maps session.

Honestly, I’m not even mad about it.

32. Sitka, Alaska

SANDRA BULLOCK DID THIS TO ME.

Remember The Proposal? Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, an engagement that wasn’t exactly what it appeared to be, and that gorgeous little Alaskan town?

SITKA IS REAL.

I knew the movie was set in Alaska, but I had never really stopped to look into Sitka itself. Then I found it on the map.

Mountains. Water. Islands. Historic buildings. Russian-American history. Tlingit culture.

And the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

Here’s the funny part: much of The Proposal was actually filmed in Massachusetts, not Sitka. Which means that one movie is now responsible for TWO destinations on this list.

But Sitka isn’t here just because of Hollywood.

While looking around southeastern Alaska, I discovered Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, and now I want that to be a major part of the same trip.

We’re talking enormous glaciers, rugged coastline, wildlife, and the kind of landscape that makes you feel very, very small.

There’s a logistical catch: you can’t simply drive north from Sitka to Glacier Bay. Getting between them takes some planning by air or sea, and visiting Glacier Bay’s glaciers generally means arranging a boat excursion.

But this is a wishlist, not a finalized itinerary.

I can work out the transportation later.

For now, I know that I want to see Sitka, and I want to experience Glacier Bay.

And yes, I will absolutely be thinking about Sandra Bullock while I’m there.

And while looking into Sitka’s past, I found this remarkable photograph of a Tlingit village and the harbor around 1886. Look at those ships and the mountains behind them! There’s so much history here beyond the movie.

33. Rockport, Massachusetts

The OTHER half of my The Proposal adventure.

Once I learned that much of the movie’s Alaska setting was actually filmed in Rockport, Massachusetts, I immediately had another question.

What does Rockport look like when Hollywood isn’t pretending it’s somewhere else?

Turns out, it looks like the kind of New England coastal town I’d happily spend days wandering around.

Fishing boats. Little shops. Historic buildings. A harbor. That wonderful seaside atmosphere where you can practically smell the saltwater through the pictures.

There’s even a famous little red fishing shack called Motif Number 1. It’s been photographed and painted so many times that it has become something of a symbol of the town.

And nearby Manchester-by-the-Sea was used for the grand family home in the movie.

So now I want to explore the real filming locations, compare them to what I remember seeing onscreen, and then enjoy Rockport for what it actually is.

I don’t think I’ve ever put a place on a travel wishlist specifically because of a movie before.

But apparently there’s a first time for everything.

Maybe this is the beginning of a whole new series.

I Saw It in a Movie, So Naturally I Had to Go.

Tell me that doesn’t sound like something I’d do. LOL.

34. Jamestown, Rhode Island

Rhode Island wasn’t even on my list of states represented in this series yet.

Then I opened Google Maps.

Oh, Rhode Island. What have you DONE?

Jamestown caught my eye first. It’s on Conanicut Island, surrounded by water, with rocky coastlines, beaches, lighthouses, and historic sites.

Beavertail State Park looks absolutely beautiful, and I want to see Beavertail Lighthouse. Then there’s Fort Wetherill State Park, with its old military fortifications overlooking the water.

But of course, I couldn’t stop at Jamestown.

I found the Hamilton Hoppin House in nearby Middletown, a gorgeous nineteenth-century mansion that’s now an inn.

A HISTORIC MANSION YOU CAN SLEEP IN.

Then I discovered The Grange in the Potowomut area.

The property dates back to the eighteenth century, and its historical accounts connect it to none other than the Marquis de Lafayette.

LAFAYETTE.

As in, George Washington and the American Revolution Lafayette.

I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore. This is exactly the kind of thing that happens when I start clicking on old houses.

The Grange is a private historic property, so it isn’t somewhere I’d just show up expecting a tour. But its story alone makes me want to learn more about the area.

Add in Newport’s architecture, the surrounding islands, beaches, and the sheer amount of colonial and maritime history, and suddenly Rhode Island deserves a much longer visit than I ever imagined.

All because I wanted to give another state a chance.

35. Laramie, Wyoming

WYOMING HAS A PYRAMID.

Did everyone else know this?

Because I certainly did NOT.

Just outside Laramie is the Ames Monument State Historic Site, where an enormous granite pyramid stands on the open prairie.

It’s sixty feet tall.

And no, it’s not ancient Egyptian. It was built in the 1880s to honor two brothers associated with the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

It once stood near the railroad town of Sherman, which later disappeared after the rail route changed.

A pyramid. Railroad history. A vanished town.

Three rabbit holes for the price of one.

Naturally, I started looking at Laramie itself.

There’s the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, where Butch Cassidy was once incarcerated.

The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming has historical archives and collections, and the same complex is home to the Toppan Rare Books Library.

RARE BOOKS. AGAIN.

There’s also the university’s Geological Museum, which means dinosaurs and fossils, and that alone would make this a great stop with the kids.

And because apparently I cannot resist an old mansion, I went looking into the historic homes around Laramie, including the Old Holliday Mansion and the beautiful Ivinson Mansion, which operates as a museum.

Wyoming wasn’t supposed to be a pyramid hunt.

But now it absolutely is.

36. Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

This one is different.

I didn’t stumble across it because of a weird museum or an old building.

I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon.

And I want to go.

Not just for a few hours. Not just to pull over, take a picture, and say I’ve seen it.

I WANT A WEEK.

I want to watch the sunrise over the canyon and stay long enough to see the colors change at sunset.

I want to visit the historic buildings around Grand Canyon Village, learn about the geology, take in the overlooks, and explore trails that are appropriate for our abilities and whoever comes along.

I want to see the South Rim, the North Rim, and Grand Canyon West.

And yes, I know that isn’t as simple as driving around the edge of one giant hole. LOL.

The North Rim is a substantial drive from the South Rim, and its seasonal access has to be checked. Grand Canyon West, home of the famous Skywalk, is operated by the Hualapai Tribe and is separate from the national park.

But that’s precisely why I want to give this trip time.

I want to learn about the people who have called this region home for generations. I want to see the canyon from different perspectives. I want to experience something that photographs can never fully capture.

Maybe we’ll do a ranger program. Maybe we’ll ride the Grand Canyon Railway. Maybe we’ll arrange a guided experience that gets us closer to the Colorado River.

I don’t know all the details yet.

I just know I don’t want to rush through one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the world.

A full week. That’s the dream.

37. Niagara Falls, New York

I MEAN, THE OBVIOUS ONE. LOL.

NIAGARA FALLS.

How have I made it this far without seeing Niagara Falls?

I want to stand there and hear the water. I want to see the mist rising. I want to ride the Maid of the Mist and get absolutely soaked while wondering why I thought that sounded like a good idea.

But, again, I started looking at the map.

And the falls are only the beginning.

There’s the Niagara Scenic Parkway, with views along the Niagara River and gorge.

There’s the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a scenic route that follows hundreds of miles of shoreline and connects historic towns, waterfronts, and beautiful landscapes.

I already know I’m going to want to take the scenic route instead of the fastest one.

Then I found the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston.

A remarkable Catholic shrine with a glass-domed basilica, religious sculptures, and outdoor devotional spaces.

Absolutely going on the itinerary.

And then there’s Buffalo.

Buffalo has the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, where Roosevelt took the presidential oath after President William McKinley’s death in 1901.

A PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIC SITE.

I also found Old Fort Niagara, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and the Buffalo Naval & Military Park.

And honestly, I haven’t even begun properly researching Buffalo.

Lord knows what else I’ll find once I do. LOL.

38. Charleston, South Carolina

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH CHARLESTON ONCE.

Just passing through.

And I have wanted to go back ever since.

Some places stay with you even when you barely get a chance to see them. Charleston is one of those places for me.

The architecture alone is enough to make me want to spend days wandering around with my camera.

Historic houses. Colorful buildings. Beautiful porches. Cobblestone streets. Old churches. Trees dripping with Spanish moss.

Then I learned that Charleston has its own FRENCH QUARTER.

A FRENCH QUARTER.

Apparently New Orleans isn’t the only city allowed to have one. LOL.

I want to explore White Point Garden and the Battery, admire the old mansions, and spend time learning the stories behind the buildings.

I want to visit Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. The fact that you take a boat to reach the fort only makes me want to go more.

And then there’s Boone Hall Plantation, with its famous Avenue of Oaks.

The beauty of those old properties is undeniable, but I also want to understand the history that made them possible, including the lives and labor of enslaved people. I don’t want to admire the architecture while overlooking the people whose stories belong to the place.

Of course, Charleston is surrounded by islands and beaches, too.

Folly Beach. Sullivan’s Island. Isle of Palms. Kiawah Island. Edisto Island.

And somewhere along the way, I discovered that there’s an actual town called Hollywood, South Carolina.

HOLLYWOOD.

I don’t know why that amused me so much, but it did.

Charleston deserves a real visit this time. Not just a drive-through.

I want to come back and finally see the city I’ve been thinking about for years.

39. Nova Scotia, Canada

I’ve been saving Nova Scotia a spot on this list.

Because sometimes a destination isn’t about one particular museum, historic building, or attraction.

Sometimes you want to go because an entire place seems to be calling your name.

NOVA SCOTIA.

The rugged coastline. Fishing villages. Historic towns. Lighthouses. Beaches. Little islands. The Atlantic Ocean stretching out beyond the rocks.

I want to see Peggy’s Cove, with its famous lighthouse perched above the granite shoreline.

I want to explore Halifax, learn about its maritime history, and visit places connected to the Titanic and the Halifax Explosion.

I want to see Lunenburg, with its colorful historic waterfront and extraordinary seafaring heritage.

And I want to drive the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island.

Not because I need to get from one place to another, but because I want to see what comes around every bend.

There’s also Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, where the eighteenth-century French colonial town has been partially reconstructed.

An entire historic town to explore?!

YES, PLEASE.

And, knowing me, there will be a hundred unplanned stops in between.

I have a feeling Nova Scotia is one of those places where I’d keep saying, “Just one more little detour,” until we’d somehow been gone for another three hours.

Which sounds pretty perfect to me.

40. Santa Fe, New Mexico

THE GRAND FINALE.

And how did Santa Fe earn the last spot on my list?

A building.

I saw a picture of Santa Fe’s historic adobe architecture and immediately wanted to know more.

Then I found the Palace of the Governors, a building whose history reaches back to 1610.

SIXTEEN TEN.

That’s more than four hundred years of history.

And then I discovered Cristo Rey Catholic Church.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ADOBE CHURCH IN PERSON.

This church was completed in 1940, designed by architect John Gaw Meem, and built using an extraordinary number of adobe bricks.

But inside is something even older: a carved stone altar screen dating to 1761.

An eighteenth-century religious artwork inside a twentieth-century adobe church.

How could I possibly NOT want to see that?

And of course, Santa Fe has more churches.

San Miguel Chapel, with origins in the early seventeenth century, is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in the United States.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi looks completely different, with its nineteenth-century French Romanesque architecture.

And Loretto Chapel has that famous spiral staircase surrounded by legends about its construction.

I want to see all of them.

Then I found Santa Fe National Cemetery, with its rows of military headstones and layers of American history.

There’s the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the historic Plaza, art galleries, museums, and the city’s distinctive adobe neighborhoods.

And I haven’t forgotten Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, where an ordinary-looking house turns into an immersive world of unexpected passages and strange discoveries.

Plus, the surrounding region offers opportunities to learn about Pueblo history and living Indigenous communities, whose cultures long predate the city’s Spanish colonial history.

Santa Fe feels like the perfect place to end this list.

History. Architecture. Faith. Art. Mysteries. Books. And enough rabbit holes to keep me occupied for days.

I couldn’t have planned a more appropriate grand finale if I’d tried.

Forty Places. And I’m Just Getting Started.

And there we have it.

FORTY PLACES I WANT TO GO.

Some are places I’ve wanted to visit for years.

Some are places I’ve barely heard of until recently.

Some are destinations that will require major planning, saving, and probably a little bit of luck.

And some are close enough that I could realistically wake up one morning, load everybody into the Suburban, and go.

I know I won’t get to all forty overnight. That’s not the point.

The point is that I don’t want to stop being curious.

I don’t want to look at a map and think I’ve already seen everything worth seeing.

I want to keep discovering strange museums, beautiful buildings, little towns, old cemeteries, scenic roads, bookstores, national parks, and places I never knew existed.

I want to keep taking the kids along for the adventure when we can. I want to keep making memories with Ty. And sometimes, I want to go somewhere simply because something caught my eye and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Turning forty doesn’t mean I’m finished dreaming.

It means I’ve got forty years of curiosity behind me, and hopefully many, many more adventures ahead.

Now tell me:

Which of these forty places have YOU visited? And what did I miss?

Because you know perfectly well I’m already making another list. LOL.

Until the next rabbit hole,

Kelly
In My Mom Era